PT Sumatera Riang Lestari, Affiliated Company to APRIL, Clear-Cuts
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PT Sumatera Riang Lestari, affiliated company to APRIL, clear-cuts natural forests in Rupat Island, eliminates endangered Ramin habitat, threatens indigenous Suku Akit and degrades peat ecosystem in the small island Investigative Report - Eyes on the Forest Investigated in 2010 Published in February 2011 Eyes on the Forest (EoF) is a coalition of environmental NGOs in Riau, Sumatra: Friends of the Earth Riau Office, Jikalahari "Riau Forest Rescue Network" and WWF-Indonesia, Riau Program. EoF monitors the status of the remaining natural forests in Sumatra's Province of Riau and disseminates the information worldwide. More news on Eyes on the Forest, go to: http://www.eyesontheforest.or.id Email: [email protected] Eyes on the Forest Investigative Report – Feb 2011 Page 1 Executive Summary Eyes on the Forest (EoF) investigation has found that PT Sumatera Riang Lestari (SRL) in its Blok Rupat concession had destroyed habitat of protected Ramin species (Gonystylus sp) that internationally protected since 2003 by Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The Indonesian Government has banned all products derived from Ramin tree and its processed product, despite it is not used for paper productioni. The loss of Ramin habitat as the company just set aside small-diameter trees --as EoF investigation team found-- should need further action by the authority whether Ramin trees are clear-cut and the CITES Red List breached by PT Sumatera Riang Lestari, an affiliated company to Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL). In Sumatera, Ramin trees are found in eastern part of Riau Province stretching out to South Sumatra. Good price of Ramin and huge demand by international market for this product possibly drive massive clear-cutting in this peat forest. Rupat Island is one of islands in Riau Province which is located in Eastern plains of Sumatera. With its 15-square kilometer size, Pulau Rupat is considered as a small island that must be protected and requires sustainable development and environmental-friendly condition in order to provide prosperity to its 30,000 population. Devastating impact made by development should be avoided. It’s a highly strategic island that should be preserved as it’s bordered to neighboring Malaysia. The Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economy visited Pulau Rupat and mentioned the Eyes on the Forest Investigative Report – Feb 2011 Page 2 island has potential to be an integrated tourism destination as long as its environment is well-preserved, media reportedii. Natural forest clearing by PT SRL in Rupat Island threatened mangrove and peat ecosystem which also incites carbon emission and global climate. Based on a study by Wetlands International & Canadian International Development Agency 2003, the entire concession of PT SRL in Blok Pulau Rupat has deep peat more than 2-4 meters. Rupat Island is an important place for migration raptors, particularly for birds of prey, and as the resting site and exit of the species migration from and to Indonesia through the Malayan Peninsula. Results of series of the study which are conducted by Raptor Indonesia (Rain) and the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) have shown there are several flights of large flock of Oriental honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis) during February until April yearly when they fly home in a wave of migration (spring migration). Raptor Indonesia in 2004 had confirmed that Rupat Island is important area called the "bottleneck site" migration of certain bird species (especially Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis or Oriental honey buzzard) and must be protected and conserved for the continuation of migration of species in the area. PT SRL pulpwood plantation expansion obviously will also marginalize indigenous Suku Akit tribe who have been dwelling in Rupat island for centuries. Clear-cutting forest and draining peatlands will affect much to livelihoods of Akit Tribe community who rely upon natural resources such as forest and river. Devastating ecosystem in the island due to peat drainage and forest clearance is obviously a misery that should be swallowed by Akit Tribe community. In March 2010, at least 2000 families had signed a petition to the Government to protest the pulpwood plantation expansion of PT SRL, an Eyes on the Forest Investigative Report – Feb 2011 Page 3 affiliated company to APRIL, as they fear the operation would cause devastating impact to the small island and misery to people living there. EoF calls on PT SRL and APRIL to stop natural forest clearing and draining peat canals in Rupat Island as its license is legally questionable and possibly creates social conflict, jeopardizes community economy as well as poses threats to High Conservation Value Area and affects negatively global climate. Eyes on the Forest Investigative Report – Feb 2011 Page 4 Background Pulau Rupat, where PT SRL, affiliated company to APRIL, expands pulpwood plantation Rupat Island is an island located at Bengkalis regency, Riau Province. This island has approximately 1500 square km size and is inhabited by some 30,000 population based on the official websiteiii in 2009. According to Article 1 paragraph (3) of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 27 Year 2007 Concerning to Management on Coastal Areas and Small Islands, Pulau Rupat is categorized as a small island because it has a size less than 2000 square km. It has consequence that Rupat Island must be managed in a sustainable development and with global perspective, and in line with community’s aspirations and participation under nationally legal norms. Pulau Rupat is a small Island with a variety of highly potential natural resources which are very significant to social, economic, cultural, and environmental developments, and it supports the sovereignty of nations. Suku Akit are indigenous tribe community who are long-time inhabitants of Rupat Island, dwelling in the villages of Titi Akar, Hutan Panjang, Pangkalan Nyirih, and so on. Akit Community have livelihoods to survive by relying upon the surrounding natural resources. Fishing on freshwaters to make money is just like planting sago trees in mangrove or peat swamp area. While, forest that enriched with flora and fauna is available and help boost economic activities to meet the daily life needs. Eyes on the Forest Investigative Report – Feb 2011 Page 5 Rupat and raptor migration Rupat Island is an important place for birds as a bird migration area, particularly for birds of prey, and as the track entrance and exit of species migration from and to Indonesia through the Malayan Peninsula. Results of sustainable study which is conducted by Raptor Indonesia (Rain) and the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) has shown there is a movement of large flights of oriental honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus orientalis) within February until April yearly during their flying home migration (spring migration). In 2009, under the strategy and action plan on preventive measure against bird flu in Indonesia, National Commission for Avian Influenza and the several task forces of the Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health set Rupat location as an important location for monitoring the flow of migration of species and the monitoring of zoonosis traffic from its migrating species. EoF Investigative findings on Rupat In 2009, The Ministry of Forestry’s Director of Development of Forest Plantation issued the Decree number 02/BPHT-3/2009 dated 23 March 2009 which approved permits of Industrial Timber Plantation for PT SRL in Riau covering 20,553 hectares of natural forest. Through the annual cutting approval, called formally Annual Work Plan (RKT) 2009, particularly PT SRL Blok Rupat alone was granted 2889 hectares. This concession enables conversion to generate natural forest wood amount to 352,727 cubic meter. This means that inside concession there is indeed a high potential of natural forest is prepared to supply raw material for pulp and paper industry. In the Eyes on the Forest Investigative Report – Feb 2011 Page 6 Photo 1 shows the result of logging in PT SRL has the very high potential of natural wood and these areas should be maintained as natural forest. Photo 1. Logs from natural forest that felled in PT SRL block Rupat concession show that the pulpwood plantation contain potential mixed tropical hardwoods, which should have been preserved as natural forest. The EoF team found a ple of woods in the length of more than 1 km with the height of 3-4 meters. Photo at the coordinate point N. 01 56 10.9 E. 101 34 41.9. Eyes on the Forest investigation series conducted in December 2009, January, February, May and June 2010 have found that approximately 2000 hectares of natural forest has been felled in the area where PT SRL operates. From the reliable information on the ground, natural forest’s clear- cutting in the concession of PT SRL in Rupat block had started in middle of May 2009. Furthermore, logs felled by PT SRL in Rupat block mostly still piled in the logging site during the investigation and only a small portion that has been delivered to pulp mill of APRIL, PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (PT RAPP) in Pangkalan Kerinci town. Since 2005, APRIL has committed to its buyers, investors and the general public to protect High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF) professionally and independently identified following the stakeholder driven HCVF Toolkit for Indonesia (APRIL’s Fact Sheet available onlineiv). Eyes on the Forest Investigative Report – Feb 2011 Page 7 In 2008, APRIL had signed a contract with the Rainforest Alliance to not clear any natural forests for which no professional HCVF assessments had been done and for which the company’s HCVF delineation was disputed by stakeholdersv. In 2010, the Rainforest Alliance suspended an interim FSC Controlled Wood certificate which it had issued to APRIL’s Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper’s Forestry Division (SW-CW/FM-003712)vi.